Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au brings you all the biggest talking points from each round of the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season.
Read on for all the biggest talking points from Round 19, thanks to Mitre.
BUY TICKETS TO THE NINJA A-LEAGUE!
Western United’s unforgettable night in Tarneit
Western United “produced arguably their greatest ever win at Ironbark Fields” on Friday night.
MATCH REPORT: Western United come from behind THREE TIMES to beat Canberra in an A-Leagues epic
Canberra led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 thanks to goals from Bethany Gordon, Madison Ayson and Mary Stanic-Floody but time and again, the hosts found the answers.
Keiwa Hieda, Catherine Zimmerman and Sandra Ibarguen scored the equalising goals to set the stage for an 89th-minute winner, forced by Western substitute Kiara Di Domizio off the leg of Canberra defender Ayson for an own goal that handed the hosts all three points.
The seesawing 4-3 win will go down as one of the most memorable results in Western United’s short history as a club as Kat Smith’s side clung onto their spot in the top four, while Canberra are seventh and a point outside the top six.
“Really exciting game. Would’ve been an exciting game to watch,” said Western attacker Catherine Zimmerman on Paramount+.
“We showed so much fight to come back.
“We had this belief within ourselves, we just felt dominant.
“It was back and forth but we had this belief we could keep going and get back into the game.”
Six-goal thriller that ‘feels like a loss’ for top-six hopefuls
Central Coast Mariners were left to rue what could have been following their chaotic 3-3 draw at home to Perth Glory on Friday night.
Mariners defender Jessika Nash opened the scoring in the 19th minute but a brace from Sarah O’Donoghue early in the second half saw Perth come from behind to lead at Industree Group Stadium.
MATCH REPORT: Incredible drama as stoppage-time dagger steals Glory a point in six-goal thriller
Then it was Central Coast’s turn to swing momentum with two quickfire goals; Annalise Ramussen and Tiana Fuller scored within eight minutes of one another to give the Mariners a 3-2 lead with 20 minutes to play.
But in the third minute of stoppage time, Tijan McKenna bagged an all-important third for Perth as the contest finished with both sides locked level at 3-3; the full-time whistle brought the action to a close as one of the games of the season ended all square.
Mariners captain Annabel Martin – whose team are one point inside the top six – told Paramount+: “Any draw feels like a loss.
“Sometimes it feels even worse because I think we deserved the three points.
“We let it slip ourselves.”
Late, late drama on young gun’s 18th birthday in Sydney
Maddie Caspers had an 18th birthday to remember on Saturday.
The match appeared to be petering out for a draw after Manaia Elliott cancelled out Caspers’ first-half opener before substitute Princess Ibini took matters into her own hands at Leichhardt Oval.
MATCH REPORT: Sydney super-sub’s 98th-minute winner breaks Wellington hearts
Ibini combined with Abbey Lemon, playing a neat one-two before slotting the ball into the back of the net in the eighth minute of stoppage time to deal a blow to Wellington’s finals hopes after they had Tiana Jaber sent off during the closing stages.
“It’s one of the best presents I’ve received,” Caspers told Paramount+ post-game.
“I’m so happy for the girls and Prini’s goal made my night even better.”
Ibini added: “It’s an amazing feeling.”
The win helped Sydney climb off the foot of the table – one point above Western Sydney Wanderers, while Wellington are now eighth and two points adrift in the Finals Series race.
Melbourne City’s reaction to record-setting result: ‘It’s so special’
Record broken! Melbourne City made history over the weekend after prevailing 4-3 against rivals Adelaide United on Sunday.
City came into the game with an equal share of the league’s undefeated streak of 18 games but made that record their own with the slender win over Premiership foes Adelaide while extending their lead at the top of the table to five points over Melbourne Victory.
MATCH REPORT: Matildas star’s hat-trick helps City claim unprecedented A-Leagues record
“To get three points is incredible and that record is pretty special,” Stott told Paramount+ post-match.
“It’s something I’m so proud of and this group can be proud of themselves for getting that. We know it’s not over yet and we still have a long way to go, but yeah, we’re super happy.”
“It’s so special,” she continued. “I mean, this club is amazing and they’ve had very good teams in the past.
“To be able to put our names in that group of amazing players and amazing teams is so special, and these girls deserve it. They work hard every single day and I’m just super proud.”
‘Almost feels like we won a Grand Final’
Newcastle Jets are on a roll following their shock 3-2 win over Brisbane Roar on Sunday.
MATCH REPORT: Brisbane stunned by Jets in 95th minute as Matildas star eclipses Sam Kerr scoring feat
Brisbane Roar legend Tameka Yallop scored a first-half brace to move past Sam Kerr into second on the Ninja A-League’s all-time goalscoring leaderboard with the 70th and 71st goals of her Ninja A-League career in a dramatic first-half.
But the resurgent Jets had the final say as they celebrated a third straight win to be within five points of the top six and Brisbane, who have now gone four games without victory.
“Don’t really know how to feel. We were just saying it almost feels like we just won a Grand Final,” Allan told Paramount+ afterwards.
“Three wins for us, it’s really good to have a bit of that pressure off and play freely.”
